Solidifier gas cartridge or drum



y 1935- H. s. CORNISH SOLIDIFIED GAS CARTRIDGE OR DRUM Filed May .14,1950 -2 Sfieets-Sheet, 1

llllw 7? INVENTOR y 16, 1935' H. s. CORNISH ,0

SOLIDIFIED GAS CARTRIDGE OR- DRUM F'iled May 14, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6\M' v ,9 n 2 H hm/ V A 9 ATTORNEYj Patented July 16, 1935 SOLIDIFIEIZGAS CARTRIDGE OR DRUM I Harry S. Cornish, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application May 14, 1930, Serial No. 452,212

12 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of drums or containersemployed as a source of supply of CO2 gas or other gas under pressure tobe employed for any desired purpose for instance for carbonating orcharging liquids with a gas or for other uses. Since the invention isparticularly' useful in connection with a gaseous agent like CO2 gas,which after being reduced to solid or ice form is capable of liberatingthe gas or returning to the gaseous state, the invention will bedescribed for illustration in connection with that particular agent. Itis to be understood however that the invention may be employed inconnection with other gases which by suitable means can be reduced to asolid or ice form.

It is common practice to employ heavy steel drums or-containers for theshipment of liquid CO2, said drums being filled with the gas under veryheavy pressure as high as one thousand pounds which is sufiicient toliquefy practically all the gas although there is always some gas in thelimited space not occupied by the liquid. Said drum charged with theliquid at any suitable plant is then shipped to the point where the gasis to be employed the gas under pressure being liberated from the drumor tank through a proper outlet for carbonating liquids, particularlyfor soda water fountains.

In the art as heretofore practiced it is necessary to ship the heavydrum after it has become exhausted as a supply of gas back to thefilling plant and then, after refilling, reship it to the place of use.The object of the present invention is to avoid the necessity ofshipping the heavy drum back and forth and permit the use therein ofsolid or compressed CO2 ice compressed into blocks or masses said CO2ice being manufactured at a suitable plant and being itself shipped incartridges of convenient sizes to the point of use of the CO2 gas andthere introduced into the drum which is thereafter properly sealed. Thegas liberated from said charge or load of CO2 ice is used as thecharging CO2 gas or gas for other purposes. If solid CO2 ice is chargedinto a container or drum in an amount which will practically fill theinterior spaces thereof and the drum is sealed against escape of the gasthere will develop in the course of time excessiveand dangerous internalpressures.

The object of my present invention is not only to avoid the necessity ofshipping the heavy drum or container back and forth but to so constructthe drum as to avoid the danger of charging it with such a size or bulkof ice block at the point of use that a dangerous or excessive pressurewill (CL Bil-91.5)

develop therein from the conversion of the ice into the gas and liquid.

A further object is to adjust or predetermine the relation or proportionof the size or bulk of the ice cartridge or block to the gas holdingspaces or capacity of the tank, so that only the desired predeterminedmaximum of pressure can be developed therein after the introduction ofthe cartridge or block of C02 ice. By my invention therefore it will beseen I not only avoid the expense of shipping the gas drum or containerback and forth, which element of expense is large owing to the greatweight of the gas drum as compared with its contents but I alsoautomatically limit the maximum of pressures which might develop andwhich might be of surficient degree or amount to prohibit the use of theice within the drum as the source of gas. The solid CO2 gas or ice onlyaccording to the present invention is shipped, being placed if desiredin special cartridges or holders which at the point of use may beintroduced into the drum of my invention which is thereafter sealedagainst leakage or escape of gas through the valve controlled outlet.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the drum orcontainer as to facilitate the reloading of the drum or container withthe CO2 ice transported to the place of use, to-whichend the inventionconsists in providing said drum or container with a removable insertadapted to hold or support a block or cartridge of the CO2 ice of thepredetermined or desired amount.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suitable cap, head orseal for the drum which may be easily removed for insertion of the iceblock or cartridge and then replaced and locked and which at the sametime is of such construction as to permit the utilizationof the ordinarythe quantity of gas the greater the pressure developed. This theory isundoubtedly true in that after the carbon dioxide reaches temperaturesover the critical temperature, that is 31.35 C. (88.43 F.) the pressuredepends upon the quantity of carbon dioxide within the drum. Thisstatement is clearly true since by releasing a portion of the CO2 gasthe pressure will decrease.

I Since any drum of CO2 gas in use is likely to reach temperatures overthe critical temperature it is the applicants purpose to limit themaximum quantity of CO2 ice which may be introduced into the drum.

By the use of this feature of the invention the following results willbe attained:

(1) Such quantity of CO2 gas will be present that for any normaltemperature to which the drum is subjected the maximum pressuredeveloped will not exceed the tabulation stated on the scale, that is,will not exceed the intended pressure.

(2) When the CO2 ice melts into a liquid like ice water there will by nopossibility be a greater quantity of liquid than can be contained in theinterior of the drum.

As respects result (1) above, this point is fully explained in thestatement already made. As to result (2), attention is called to thefact that CO2 ice when converted to liquid form occupies a greatervolume in the liquid form than in the ice form, where the ice is highlycompressed as it is intended to be in the application. It isaccordinglynecessary to limit the quantity of ice so that the liquid byno chance will exceed or even approach the volume of the drum.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a drum or containerhaving an internal construction embodying one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the removable cap plug or head.

Fig. 3 shows in side elevation a form of support that may be employed inconnection with the drumfor holding the same at one end against rollingwhen the same is laid down for the purpose of reapplying the cap or plugin the end after loading with the block of CO2.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the drum in supported position.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a drum having a modification of theinterior construction whereby the object of my invention may beattained.

Fig. 6 shows the ice cartridge holding portion within the drum asequipped with a suitable scale of gas pressures.

Referring to Fig. l, I indicate the body of the ordinary container ordrum for liquid CO2 at I. The ordinary liquid holding drum of commercehas, as well understood, a rounded end integral with the sides to form acontinuous wall for the liquid holding container and at the opposite endor top an outlet for the gas indicated at 2 said outlet pipe or section2 being equipped with suitable shut-off valves and gauges and with meansfor attachment to a pipe by which the gas is led to the point of use. Toutilize said drum for the purposes of my invention I cut off the end ofthe same and provide a cap 3 adapted to be attached to and removed fromthe open end and to seat itself against the edge of the open end, asuitable sealing gasket being provided at the point of engagement asindicated at 4. A projection from the cap indicated at 5 enters the openend and is threaded upon its exterior for engagement with a thread onthe interior of the body I. This screw arrangement provides a means forattaching and detaching the cap by screwing and unscrewing the same intothe open end. To insure a gas tight connection at the open end I mayconstruct the projection 5 at its end with a thin or tapered edge asindicated at 6 which may be expanded against the inner wall of thecylinder body I to insure a good seal. This soft or expansible end 6 iscaused to engage said inner wall by the use of a tapered block I alsotapered as shown to act as an expanding device when it is drawn downtowards the end of the drum by means of a screw 8 inserted into the bodyof the block 'I as shown and adapted to be operated by the nut 8countersunk in the end of the cap 3 and operable by a suitable wrench.For convenience of operation of the screw 8 and the screw threaded capafter the cylinder I has been loaded a holder or support I such asindicated in-Fig. 3 may be employed said holder having feet III adaptedto rest on the floor or table and being also provided with a hole II inwhich a boss I2 on the exterior of the cylinder I may fit as shown inFig. 4. When, the drum is placed upon its side with the pin I2 engagedin the opening I I of the holder I0 the drum will be held from turningunder the force applied by means of suitable tools to screw or unscrewthe cap from the cylinder or to operate the block I for the purpose ofcompleting the seal or relieving the seal at 8 when it is desired toremove the cap. The resistance to the turning movement is eifected bythe feet III which extend out from the frame or stirrup III as shown inFig. 4.

Within the drum or container I is a suitable cartridge holder or supportI3 for the block of solid CO2 ice. Said holder, which for convenience Iterm an insert, may be in the form of a drum or cylinder equipped on itsinside with a 'shelf or support I I made adjustable if desired withinthe cylinder I3 and adapted to be clamped in any desired position by theclamping devices I which pass through flanges of the shelf I4 and may bein the form of screws as indicated that may be operated to free theshelf I4 or to clamp it in position when it is desired to change theposition of the shelf. The cylinder or holder I3 may be adapted to beinserted from the bottom of the cylinder I and may be furnished with aflange I3 that engages a shoulder on the inside of the drum I when thecylinder I3 is pushed upwardly. This device limits the movement anddepth of insertion of the cylinder I3 when the same is inserted and heldby engagement of the device I therewith. The position of the shelf orsupport I4 for different sizes of CO2 ice block or cartridge to beloaded into the drum may be accurately determined by the use of a scaleI! applied to the side of the cylinder I3 and contiguous preferably toan open slot therein through which the edge of the table or shelf I4 maybe viewed. With the construction illustrated it is assumed that thecartridge of ice when supported on the shelf will reach to the top ofthe drum I3 and practically no higher. In other words the amount of CO2ice loaded into the drum is of such size as to fill the same from theshelf or support to the top edge thereof. If the shelf is at itslowermost position the size of the block of ice as compared with thespace into which the gas developed therefrom may expand isproportionately the greatest.

The cartridge of CO2 ice, which it is desired to use in a givencontainer or drum I equipped in the manner described, may have thepressure which will develop under any maximum normal temperature stampedor marked on the side of the paper or other envelope of the cartridge ofinterior pressure.

ice, while the movable shelf for support M will determine the amount orsize of cartridge that can be used therein for the desired maximum Thissupport can beset for this position and left that way where the samequantity of ice or pressure is always to be used or can be changed whenit is desired to use the device for different maximum pressures andconsequently other sizes of cartridges. This is an especially desirablefeature if the invention be employed for ice formed from other gasesthan CO2 gas. Tests will positively indicate the position that the shelfor support 14 should have for a given inside diameter and length of gasholding drum. As will be understood, for uniformity of results thedensity of the ice in manufacturing the same should be made uniform sothat it will be definitely known how much space should be left for thegas to expand into in order to control the maximum interior pressureunder any normal maximum temperatures. In practice the holder for theice constructed as described and adjusted for the desired size of blockand pressure, and which may be, termed the insert, would be employed,simply by slipping the.

block of ice shipped in a paper wrapper, for instance, into the insert,with or without the wrapper but preferably without and then placing theinsert with its load of ice into the drum and sealing said drum by thedevice described. Ordinarily the insert provided with the scale andmovable shelf would remain as part of the drum equipment, with the useror customer and so far as said customer is concerned the insert shelfwould remain in position for renewals of the ice.

The device is primarily intended for deliveries of the manufactured icewithin short ranges such as in a city but the ice cartridges can beshipped in carload lots and be used for delivery locally. In practice itis desirable to manufacture the cartridges from ice pressed intodifferent lengths of rods at the manufacturing ice plant or long rodsmay be made and cut to the desired lengths said lengths of cartridgebeing preferably of the desired cross-sectional dimension to fit thecontainers or shells l3.

Assuming that an ice cartridge is placed in the insert l3 and is of suchsize as to fill the space in the insert from the 850 mark on the scaleto the top of the shell or insert this would result in the developmentof a maximum pressure of gas for the assumed maximum temperature of say850 pounds, that pressure being secured by the proportioning of the sizeof cartridge with the standard density of ice, to the cubic contents ofthe remaining spaces in the drum or holder into which comparatively lowpressure being due to the fact that a comparatively large space forexpanding the gas is left. If, however, the shelf be lowered and alarger cartridge filling the insert is placed in the drum the expandinggas holding space being then comparatively smaller the maximum developedpressure will-be higher. Obviously by restricting the size of .thecartridge or the relation or proportion of its size or bulk to the gasholding spaces or capacity of the tank the developed pressure will beless and by this means une safe pressure may be avoided while at thesame time all the advantages of shipping the ice in cartridges for usein properly constructed tanks are secured.

While I have described the invention as carried out by the shipping ofcartridges of ice to be insorted into shells or inserts of restricted orprerelated to the gas holding capacity or gas col-- lecting space of thecontainer could be predetermined by the diameter of the tube or insertwhich could be loaded to different heights according to the limit ofpressure desired. In this instance the shell or insert would be providedwith suitable gas outlets near its upper end as shown. The loading ofthe insert to its full length with the ice cylinder or pencil would ofcourse result in the production of the maximum permissible pressure inthe particular holder I with which it is used. An insert of largerdiameter as indicated in Fig. 6 but of less length than the cylindermight of course be employed and the loading thereof to different heightswould result in the production of different maximum internal pressuresas indicated by the scale on the side of the shell or insert. Thepressures indicated are shown merely for the sake of example but inpractice would of course be lower than those shown in Fig. 6. The shellor insert may be held after insertion as indicated in Fig. 5 by a bossprojecting from the cap and entering one end of the tube and byengagement of the-opposite end with a socket in said latter end asshown. Other means of course might be employed for holding the insert inplace. In Fig. 6 the insert is preferably closed at its lower end and issupported in a sleeve or ring projecting from thebase of the drum. Inthis figure the seal is effected by engagement of the end of the cap orplug with a gasket on a shoulder within the end of the drum orcontainer.

What I claim is:

l. A device for producing carbon dioxide under pressure from solidifiedcarbon dioxide, comprising a container, and a compartment in thecontainer to hold solidified carbon dioxide, the volume of thecompartment not exceeding 40%. of the volume of the container to limitthe amount of solidified carbon dioxide which can be introduced into thecontainer at one time.

2. A device for producing'carbon dioxide under pressure from solidifiedcarbon dioxide, comprising a container, and means in the container toprevent the introduction into the container at one time of a volume ofsolidified carbon dioxide exceeding 40% of the volume of the container.

3. A tank or container adapted to collect and retain a gas under heavypressure and containing means for supporting CO2 in ice form and meansin said container for gauging the bulk of the ice inserted with relationto the size of the gas containing spaces in said container to limit theaccumulated maximum pressure to be derived from said ice to the desireddegree.

4. A hermetically sealed container for CO2 ice adapted to receive a massof the ice of and having means in said container for predetermining thesize or cubic content of the inserted mass predetermined with relationto the volume of hermetically sealed pressure proof gas spaces in whicha gas liberted from the ice in the cooling operation may collect and maybe confined thereby predetermining the extent of possible maximumaccumulated gas pressure.

5. A sealed receptacle or container adapted to hold a block of insertedCO2 ice in combination with means in said container for gauging the sizeof the inserted and contained block of ice as compared with the cubicgas capacity of the spaces into which the gas may expand andber'etaine'd,

" thereby predetermining the ultimate maximum pressure of gas developed.V I I A 6. A sealed container provided with a suitable gas retainingspace for the gas liberated from a loading of gas generating iceinserted within the same and means in said container for adjusting thesize of the load of ice to limit the developed pressure to the desiredmaximum pressure in the container.

ing provided with a gauge indicating the maximum pressure of gas thatwill be developed in the container for a. determinate size of icecartridge loaded into the same by means'of the insert.

9. A gas pressure retaining container for CO2 ice consisting of a drumprovided with a removable end and with an insert having means forholding a predetermined load of ice to be loaded into the containerafter being placed in said insert.

10. In a container for a body of ice adapted to liberate a gas, aremovable head and an insert having means for holding the desired chargeof ice for reloading into the container, said insert being insertablethrough the opening closed by the head and means for securing the headin position to close the gas spaces of the container with a gas tightjoint.

11. A container for carbon dioxideice comprising a pressure retainingdrum, a. removable ice' supporting insert for said drum, means forsealing said drum with said insert inserted within the same and meansfor adjustably regulating the amount of carbon dioxide ice carried bysaid insert.

12. A device for producing carbon dioxide gas of the desired pressurefrom solidified carbon dioxide comprising a container and a retainingdevice therein having adjustable means to receive the solidified carbondioxide and to definitely limit the amount of solid material to anamount such that on the application of heat the pressure gemted will beof the desired degree.

1 HARRY S; .CORNISH.

